The band originally played under the name Clay Allison – they dropped that name in 1984. They released several stray singles and EPs on independent labels through the mid-80s, attracting the attention of Greg Ginn’s SST Records. They released one album (Happy Nightmare Baby) on SST before both the label and the band fell apart.

In 1987, the band hired folk musician Hope Sandoval as a backup singer. Later that year, the band toured as the opening act for The Jesus and Mary Chain. During a concert in Providence, Rhode Island, Kendra Smith abruptly hurled her bass to the floor, walked offstage and quit the band.

David Roback decided to keep the band going and replaced Smith with Hope Sandoval. They continued to tour and record for the next year, writing a full album to be titled Ghost Highway. However, in 1989, the group decided to change their name to Mazzy Star and the theoretical album became 1990’s She Hangs Brightly.

Opal never achieved the commercial success that Mazzy Star did and their records have lapsed in and out of print for years. They, however, could be considered a cult band, as their music is held in high regard by critics and music fans today.